Dark, leafy lettuce began to sprout. It was cleaned and stuffed into resealable bags.

• • •

Volunteer Way joins a small group of food banks nationwide that have begun to grow their own food.

The Vermont Foodbank purchased a farm this summer to grow its own fruits and vegetables, said Ross Fraser, spokesman for America's Second Harvest in Chicago, the nation's leading hunger relief charity.

And a nationwide initiative called Plant a Row for the Hungry encourages gardeners to grow extra produce for food banks.

"A number of food banks have community gardens," Fraser said. "It isn't rare, but it isn't common, either. It's a good way to get farm-fresh, just-picked fruits and vegetables to people in need."

While Volunteer Way continues to harvest on the small plot behind the warehouse, it plans to someday grow produce on a donated 6.8-acre plot across the street.

But it will take an investment: Officials say getting started on that first acre will cost $130,000.

Cypher, the food bank's executive director, hopes more donations come in so that the food bank can sustain its growing customer.

"We're going to need to get going on that 6.8 acres," he said. "We're turning away families. Food is getting tighter by the day."

Camille C. Spencer can be reached at cspencer@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6229.

816 Lettuce plants in the garden.

612 Tomato plants in the garden.

1 monthTime it took to harvest the first batch of lettuce.

2 months Time it took to harvest the first batch of tomatoes.

Source: The Volunteer Way

by the numbers

>>Fast facts

Help for the hungry

The Volunteer Way food bank needs volunteers to help collect food for its ongoing food drive, Kids Against Hunger. For more information, call Martha O'Brien at (727) 815-0433.